The small fee raising big questions for India's payments revolution
Since its launch in 2016, UPI has become a central part of India's digital payments economy.
A Year After Nepal’s Gen Z Uprising, Balendra Shah Confronts the Limits of Revolt
Its leaders successfully dismantled an old political order but had little knowledge of how to develop the institutions or governing consensus needed to replace it.
NZ apologises to children forced to live in bush for years with fugitive dad
A public inquiry has found that agencies "missed key opportunities" to recover the children sooner.
Japan to charge rescue fee on Mount Fuji during off season
The fee is among a series of measures Yamanashi prefecture is introducing to deter reckless climbers.
The women saving Borneo: Battling fire, patriarchy, and super el Niño on Indonesia’s peatland frontlines
Fire threatens Kalimantan’s rainforests. On the peatland frontlines, a group of local mothers is defending their community. Words and Photography: Garry LotulungIrma puts on her h…
Locked offices and millions in donations: Inside India's little-known political parties
Little-known political parties are receiving millions in donations despite limited electoral activity.
Okinawa Voted for a New Governor
Koja Genta didn't win because of his stance on U.S. bases. He won because of his vision for the economy.
From Nomad Festival to National Showcase: Kyrgyzstan Takes Center Stage
In early September, Kyrgyzstan hosted both the World Nomad Games and the SCO summit in a carefully choreographed spectacle of national power and pride.
Indonesian wildfires threaten leading orangutan research site in Borneo
Critically endangered Bornean orangutans flee forests as staff at Cabang Panti work round the clock to stave off blazeWildfires in Indonesia are sweeping through a critical resear…
The Perils of Mind-Reading in the Taiwan Strait
Without sustained dialogue over Taiwan, Beijing and Washington are both vulnerable to dangerous misreadings of each other’s intentions.
Japan Faces Hard Choices in Weaning off Russian Energy
Beyond the question of energy security, Tokyo may want to avoid antagonizing Russia further by cutting off LNG purchases.
More than 100,000 people in Japan are now aged 100 or older
Figures show 88% of the centenarians are women as the population continues to age and shrink.
What Has AUKUS Pillar II Achieved Over 5 Years?
Pillar II’s progress has proven difficult to judge – not due to a lack of activity, but because there’s no agreed metric for what success should look like.
JASDF Global Hawk Presumed to Have Crashed off Western Japan
The incident could strain Japan’s persistent wide-area surveillance capabilities, as the JASDF operates only three of the high-altitude unmanned aircraft.
A New Kind of Cold War? China-US Competition in Latin America
Trump returned to the presidency with renewed determination to mitigate Chinese influence worldwide, giving particular interest to the Western Hemisphere.
China and Mexico: How Far Should Technology Cooperation Go?
The Mexican government is deepening ties with Beijing in some of the sectors most sensitive to U.S. security concerns.
In Turkmenistan’s Data Desert, the Golden Age Is a Mirage
The IMF says Turkmenistan, in failing to provide key economic data, is in breach of its obligations.
Indian police detain driver who hit female biker in viral video
The incident has sparked a broader discussion about the harassment and hostility faced by female motorcyclists.
Pakistan-Oman Maritime Deal Signals Gwadar’s Expanding Regional Relevance
As the strategically located Pakistani port’s geopolitical value increases, can its market readiness keep pace?
What Malaysia’s Recent State Election Results Say About the Country’s Political Direction
Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs discusses the outcome of the recent elections in Johor and Negeri Sembilan.
They’re the sopranos of the forest, so what’s silencing the gibbons’ morning chorus?
As human development and roads increasingly fragment their habitats, a study suggests traffic noise could be altering the animals’ wake-up callDawn has broken, and the air is cool…
Cambodia, Thailand Begin Compulsory Conciliation in Maritime Boundary Dispute
The process, convened under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, follows Thailand’s revocation of a 2001 MoU governing bilateral maritime talks.
China tightens travel restrictions for citizens
Observers say the new rules will further tighten the Chinese government's control over its citizens.
‘This is seriously bold’: How China turned Taiwan tensions into a top-rating TV spy drama
Dismissed in Taiwan as simply propaganda, the Long Watch, or Jiaofeng, has proved a sensation across the strait with its references to real-life crisesAfter shaking off the people…